Love can be a real monster.
Seventeen-year-old Boy’s never left home. When you’re the son of Frankenstein’s monster and the Bride, it’s tough to go out in public, unless you want to draw the attention of a torch-wielding mob. And since Boy and his family live in a secret enclave of monsters hidden under Times Square, it’s important they maintain a low profile.
Boy’s only interactions with the world are through the Internet, where he’s a hacker extraordinaire who can hide his hulking body and stitched-together face behind a layer of code. When conflict erupts at home, Boy runs away and embarks on a cross-country road trip with the granddaughters of Jekyll and Hyde, who introduce him to malls and diners, love and heartbreak. But no matter how far Boy runs, he can’t escape his demons—both literal and figurative—until he faces his family once more.
This hilarious, romantic, and wildly imaginative tale redefines what it means to be a monster—and a man.
Man Made Boy was like reading the best B-Movie ever! I don’t know about everyone else but I’ve always been a big fan of B-Horror Movies because they were fun and always gave you the monsters in the classic way. That is exactly the way you’ll see them in this book, except you’ll see just how well those old monsters do or don’t adapt to the modern world.
I immediately fell in love with the character Boy and his quiet personality. Though I seriously wish his name would have been something other than “Boy.” He is the son of Frankenstein’s Monster and of course he wasn’t born in the same way other creatures would be – no he was created. Patched together with the parts from dead humans. But whereas his parents were science experiments, Boy was a labor of love. Not only is he a wonderful character, he is also a tech genius! A computer hacker extraordinaire if you will. He’s been locked up his whole life inside the Broadway show house where his family and a myriad troupe of other creatures live, hiding from humanity right under it’s nose. Entertaining humans with a magical Broadway show each night.
“No, Boy. Rain-forest ecosystems are complicated. Humans are just a mess.” – pg 24
“One.”
“That’s it? Geez, are you ridiculously shy or something?”
“No, I’m just fucking ugly, okay?” – pg 208
“Do I believe they exist somewhere out there in infinite space? Yes. Do I think they’re hanging out around our solar system, occasionally sneaking over to steal a cow or probe someone’s ass? No.”
“Arse-probing gets a bad rap,” she said.” – pg 211
There are so many creatures from different cultures and folklore that you find yourself wondering what or who Boy might encounter next. I was surprisingly thrown for a loop when I made assumptions about things to find out later I was wrong. This was definitely a coming of age story of a boy on the cusp of adulthood and about self acceptance and doing what’s right. I can only hope there will be more of these books and have already picked up another book by this author in hopes I will enjoy it as much as I did Man Made Boy.
Man Made Boy
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• A copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review. Quotes come from the published edition. All opinions expressed are my own. Please note that this post also contains affiliate links. To view our full Blog Policy, click here.
Tabitha (Pabkins)
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Becky LeJeune
I have this one in my TBR but yours is the first review I’ve seen. I did talk to the Penguin rep this weekend and she said it was super cute – she highly recommended it so it’s def in my review plans soon.
Becky LeJeune recently posted…Horror for Halloween Giveaway
Tabitha the Pabkins
I really loved it so I hope you plan to give it a read soon. It would make the perfect, non scary, but still fitting Halloween read! Were you at a book fair?
Pamela D
Great review. I am going to have to add this to my TBR list.
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Tabitha the Pabkins
Do it, Do it – you will love it!!
Heidi
Wow! Five stars. I was so tempted to request this, but I was booked for Wicked, now I am sorry that I didn’t . I thought it sounded fantastic too and B horror movies are always funny to me so I am hoping this book is just as fun. I will definitely be reading this!
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Tabitha the Pabkins
It really is awesome. I think B horror movies are funny too. I think thats the point haha. This was funny, endearing, sad – just pretty much wonderful.
Charleen
Sounds like a great premise!
Charleen recently posted…The Fellowship of the Worms: The Passage
Tabitha the Pabkins
It really was! So much fun. The perfect Halloween read!
Cali W.
Great review! This looks like a fun Halloween read. 😉
Tabitha the Pabkins
Yes, it would make the perfect Halloween read – not scary but very monster centric! hehe
Jaime Lester
So I am going to buy this one right this minute. I have to. I have been nutso about this book since I first saw the awesome cover and read the even more awesome synopsis! I was almost scared to read your review in case you hated it. But I sucked it up and read it, and I am a happy little southern gal right now. I cannot wait to get my hands on this book!
Pabkins
YES! HAVE TO HAVE TO! Because you will love it! The cover art really is fun isn’t it? I swear I hope there are more books with these characters. But if there aren’t this is still a great stand alone book.
Pabkins recently posted…Review: Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron
Jaime Lester
Hardcover will be mine. Can’t do the Kindle copy with a cover like this. I cannot wait for this book. It may be nearing obsession!
Tabitha the Pabkins
I love it when I feel that way about a book – then its one of those you gobble up in one day. Exactly what happened with me on this one.
tammy
OK, now I really want to read this. I trust you. Completely.
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Pabkins
Haha you made me smile do big just then. You are seriously going to love this my soul sister!
Pabkins recently posted…Review: Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron
Tammy
Off to Amazon I go… tra la tra la!
Tammy recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday (74) HIGH & DRY by Sarah Skilton